Meanwhile, Somewhere On The Turkish Border…
Every day we move closer towards the precipice of a regional conflagration …
Turkey In “Iraq Buildup” After PKK Attacks
Major troop deployment reported along Iraqi border after government tells military to plan and prepare for an incursion. PM rebuffs US Ambassador’s warning against unilateral action, says government will decide on what to do.
BIA News Center
18/07/2006
B?A (Ankara) – A major troop buildup along Turkey’s border with Iraq reportedly concentrating on the “Devil’s Triangle” where the borders of the two countries meet that with Iran continued on Tuesday, a day after a cabinet summit on anti-terrorism measures heard proposed measures in Ankara including the possible declaration of a State of Emergency in the region.
The developments come in wake of the death of at least 12 Turkish soldiers, 2 police officers, a village guard and 3 militants of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in an upsurge of violence in the troubled Southeast region this week.
[…]
Press reports coming amid local reports of growing troop deployment in the border region have it that the government has practically issued a “political directive” for the Turkish military to “plan and prepare” for a possible incursion into Northern Iraq.
While local media reports have it that the military buildup continues, pro-Kurdish Firat News Agency (ANF) alleged on July 18 that military aircraft had been carrying new supplies to Diyarbakir province throughout Monday night. It also claimed that all leaves of military personnel in the region had been cancelled.
[…]
Coinciding with the fast track developments in Ankara, the PKK’s armed flank Peoples’ Defense Forces (HPG) issued its own statement on Monday where it warned that it had come to the “end of patience”.
The statement, carried by the pro-Kurdish Firat News Agency (ANF) in full, said the region was going through “a real war condition” and blamed Turkey’s preparations and operations since the beginning of the year for “escalating the war”.
Referring to the new Anti-Terror Law approved by the president as a “war decision”, the organization repeated that the government and army would be responsible of the consequences. (II/YE)
[My emphasis]
